Folding chair



May 8, 1934. w HANSON 1,958,042

FOLDING CHAIR Filed March 4, 1932 J Zlmnntov W Walfev NL Hanson Maw Patented May 8, 1934 UNITED STATES FOLDING CHAIR Walter M. Hanson, Grand Rapids, Mich., as-

signor to American Seating Company, Grand I Rapids, Mich., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 4, 1932, Serial No. 596,733

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to metal frames and more particularly to folding chairs of metal construction.

The main objects of the invention are to provide a chair of the character above set forth which is rugged and sturdy in construction; to provide such a chair which is noiseless in its folding operation; and, to provide such a chair construction which is economical in manufacture, pleasing in appearance and utilitarian in use.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the folding chair in its unfolded position;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the chair in its partly folded position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view of a portion of the chair;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4=4 of Figure 3; I

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2, and Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing in which like parts are designated by the same numerals in the several views, the folding chair generally comprises a U-shaped tubular metal frame 1 forming a support for a back 2, preferably of sheet metal, positioned below the horizontally disposed medial portion 3 of the frame and suitably secured thereto and to the opposite vertically disposed portions thereof which form spaced front legs 4. The tubular frame member is triangularly formed in cross section from sheet metal stock with its longitudinal edges bent and flanged inwardly to form a finished and reinforcing seam 5 as best shown in Figure 6.

A pair of tubular metal, spaced rear legs '7, formed in the same manner as is the frame member formed, are each pivotally connected to a yoke or saddle 8 which embraces and is secured to each side of the frame member as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The lower ends of frame member which form the front legs 4 of the chair and the rear legs 7 thereof are provided with horizontally disposed reinforcing or strengthening rods 9, 10, 11, 12 and 18-whose outer ends pierce the seams of said legs on their inner sides, as best seen in Figure 5, and extend through to the outsides of the legs where their respective ends are riveted to form heads 14. The reinforcing seam 5 at each of several points is pierced by reinforcing rods and is there formed with a collar embracing the end of the rod within the tubular member as best shown in Figure 5.

A seat 15 having a cushion 16 is mounted upon supporting members 1'? which are pivotally seowed to the rod 9 interiacent the front legs of Caps or stops 19, preferably of rubber, rawhide I or some other sound deadening material, are secured at the ends of said arms on their respective upper sides in any suitable manner and bear against the under side of the rod 11 for preventing noisy operation of the chair when it is unfolded for use.

A pair of links 20 pivotally secured on opposite sides of the seat supporting members and to the rod 12 are provided whereby the chair may be unfolded to open position as shown in Figure 1, or folded to closed position as indicated in Figure 2.

The forming of the tubular sections in the manner herein shown and described provides a rigid and sturdy construction and the reinforcing rods can be readily and conveniently fixed in the manner disclosed and without distorting or ma terially weakening the tubular frame and the chair supporting legs. Noiseless operation is likewise obviously effected in the construction herein illustrated and described.

While but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a metal frame, a tubular member formed from rolled strip sheet metal with the longitudinal edges of the strip flanged inwardly to form a reinforcing seam, and a reinforcing rod having one end thereof piercing the seam of said tubular member and extending through its outer side to provide a rivet head, said reinforcing seam at its pierced point being formed with a collar embracing the rod within the' tubular member.

2. In a metal frame, a pair of spaced tubular members each being formed from rolled strips of sheet metal with the longitudinal edges of the several strips flanged inwardly to form reinforcing seams, and a reinforcing rod having its respective ends piercing the seam of each spaced tubular member and extending through their respective outer sides to provide rivet heads, each reinforcing seam at its respective pierced points being formed. with a collar embracing the several ends of the rod within each of said tubular members.

WALTER M. HANSON. 

